Kangaroo Island Penguins

As the sun sets near Penneshaw, the weary traveller heads inside for a well earned rest and so too does the fairy penguin. At night the coastline around Hogg Bay and nearby Christmas Cove is alive with the sounds of these industrious birds, some of which have returned from feeding forays covering several hundreds of kilometres. Winter is the breeding season for the fairy penguin which means this hard worker may be returning to a burrow with hungry young. "So what we'll do is we will head off now and try and interpret what's happening in the colony tonight." Each night when the penguins stir so to do an array of local, interstate and international tourists. They're given a brief introduction to the life and times of this amazing creature before heading off into winter darkness. And if you can't spot them at first you certainly know they're out there. "So Roslyn they're certainly making a racket." "Yes thats the way they communicate so that they can find their young and burrows. They are calling out to the female penguins."

There are believed to be about two thousand penguins in the Penneshaw colony, one of the most important in the state. When breading season is over parents and their young will all take to the water. "So while they're out at sea they collect enough food for themselves and for their young which is quite a feat and to survive as well." Sadly, they're often safer at sea than on land where dogs and cats and traffic take their toll. In fact when breeding season is over many new arrivals won't survive beyond the first year. In order to find a safe burrow some penguins have been known to waddle a kilometre inland. You don't have to go that far to see this fascinating creature. Two tours leave the Penneshaw Penguin Interpretative Centre each winter evening. And if you're staying overnight the Sorrento Resort is literally across the road from the North Terrace Penguin Walk. Accommodation is $98 a double room. For details contact Phyllis Williams on (08) 8553 1028. For more information you can email: info@postcards.sa.com.au